First Music Review

I’ve just this minute had my first music review published on a professional website, that of ManchesterSound. They promote the music of unsigned bands and have people like me write reviews. I’m new to all this so I’m not entirely sure, but I think, under the terms of my release form, I’m not allowed to post the review itself here. I’m sure they’d thank me for linking to it though, so here it is. It’ll be the first of many I’m sure.

I’m so happy right now. For the last six months — no, two years — I’ve had no clue where my future might lie, but suddenly, after replying to one choice Gumtree ad, doors have opened. I can’t see these doors but I can hear the creaking of the hinges as a breeze nudges them ajar. I never thought I knew enough about music from a technical standpoint to write reviews — I’d feel so awful criticising someone when I didn’t really know what I was talking about — but I found that review relatively easy. It was my kind of music — indie rock — and I felt, from taking my songwriting class this semester, that I was able to critique lyrics reasonably well. Comparing the band to others didn’t exactly come naturally to me but my music knowledge is pretty broad so it didn’t take too long to find reasonable comparisons.

So here’s me, a student about to graduate, suddenly realising I might have a promising future. A message to all students then: be active; don’t wait for things to come to you. I’ve been waiting the best part of three years and only now do I really have something useful to add on my CV.

…And by the way, Lost Nomad was the group/musician I was reviewing, if anyone’s interested in unsigned Mancunian indie music.